Making a Homelessness Application
How to apply to your local council for help if you are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days.
概述
If you are homeless or likely to become homeless within 56 days, your local council has a legal duty to help you. The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 significantly expanded these duties, requiring councils to take reasonable steps to prevent homelessness (prevention duty) and to help you find accommodation (relief duty). This guide explains how to make a homelessness application and what to expect.
谁可以使用此程序
- You are homeless (no accommodation you are entitled to occupy)
- You are threatened with homelessness within 56 days
- You are eligible for assistance (based on immigration status)
- You have a local connection (helpful but not always required)
逐步流程
Approach your local council housing department
Go to your local council's housing options team or homelessness service. You can attend in person, call, or in many areas apply online. The council must accept your application and cannot turn you away. They must carry out an initial assessment.
- You do not need to be on the housing register to apply
- The council must take your application even if you are not in priority need
- If you are turned away, ask for a written decision
Assessment and personalised housing plan
The council must assess your circumstances and agree a personalised housing plan (PHP) with you. The PHP sets out the steps you and the council will take to secure accommodation. The council has a prevention duty if you are threatened with homelessness, and a relief duty if you are already homeless.
- Be honest and provide all relevant information
- The PHP should include realistic and achievable steps
- You can ask for the plan to be reviewed
Interim accommodation
If the council has reason to believe you may be homeless and in priority need (pregnant, dependent children, vulnerable, 16-17 year old, etc.), they must provide interim accommodation while they investigate your case.
- Priority need includes pregnancy, dependent children, vulnerability due to health/disability/age
- The accommodation must be suitable
- You can challenge unsuitable accommodation
Decision on main housing duty
After the relief duty period (56 days), if you remain homeless and the council is satisfied you are eligible, in priority need, and not intentionally homeless, the main housing duty under s.193 Housing Act 1996 is owed. The council must secure settled accommodation.
- The main duty continues until settled accommodation is secured
- You can be offered social housing, a private rented sector offer, or Part 6 allocation
Review and appeal
If the council decides it does not owe you a duty, or you disagree with any aspect of the decision, you can request a review within 21 days. If the review is unsuccessful, you can appeal to the county court on a point of law within 21 days of the review decision.
- Always request a review in writing
- Get legal advice — legal aid is available for homelessness cases
- The council must continue to accommodate you during a review if you were in interim accommodation
费用
重要警告
Councils sometimes unlawfully refuse to accept applications (known as 'gatekeeping') — if turned away, seek legal advice immediately.
You may be found intentionally homeless if you deliberately gave up suitable accommodation — take legal advice before leaving any home.
Providing false information in a homelessness application is a criminal offence.